A’s prospect Jorge Mateo slowed by knee issue

MESA, Ariz. - Jorge Mateo, one of the A’s most promising prospects, will not get as many at-bats early in the spring as the team had hoped because of a lingering knee problem.

Mateo sprained the ligament in his left knee during winter ball and is still having some minor issues, particularly when it comes to decelerating. The shortstop is considered the fastest player in Oakland’s system, so running is a crucial part of his game; he’ll be held out of Cactus League action at least initially but he is participating in most of the team’s on-field work, including hitting.

“The issue he has is slowing down - and he gets going pretty fast,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday morning at Fitch Park. “This time of spring, we’re going to be conservative, especially with a guy like him.”

Mateo, who was obtained in the Sonny Gray deal with the Yankees last summer, was not a roster consideration to open this season, but Melvin had been looking forward to seeing a lot of him early on before minor-league camp opens. Baseball America recently ranked him Oakland’s No. 3 prospect, behind left-hander A.J. Puk and second baseman Franklin Barreto.

“I wanted to get him a lot of at-bats here early in spring,” said Melvin, who also had planned to get a look at Mateo in center field if possible. “We’ve been talking about our athleticism and (Dustin) Fowler and Mateo are two key guys with that. ... Not to have a guy a guy we were going to look at extensively and maybe our most athletic guy, it’s a little disappointing. But we have to be careful with him.”